Piano player



Feb. 3. 1925. A 1,525,290 0. D. GRAVES PIANO PLAYER Original Filed Dec. 18, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 3. 1925.

7 1,525,290 0. D. GRAVES PIANO PLAYER Original Filed Dec. 18, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z/ 2/ Z 22 52 a m mg mg QQQEEQQUP 2/ v c z z/ 'IIIMI' u v @noemtoa OWE 62"41/65 Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PIANO PLAYER.

Continuation in part of application Serial No. 345,894, filed December 18, 1819. This application filed April 11, 1921.

T all whom it may concemi:

Be it known that I, OSCAR D. Gnavns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbia, in the county of Boone and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano Players, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tracker-bars for pneumatically operated players for pianos and similar musical in struments and this application constitutes a continuation in part of my previous application Serial Number 3%,894 filed December 18, 1919, for piano players.

Among others, the object of the present invention is to provide a special trackerbar designed particularly for use in conjunction with a novel form of expression mechanism whereby the power of the notes of the piano may be independently and automatically modified or moderated when operated under the control of a special note sheet cut to aid in moderating and which can be operated with a standard note sheet without the moderating action of the notes, if so desired. The expression mechanism aforesaid is herein described but not claimed in view of the fact that it represents divisible subject-matter.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and claimed. Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of that part of a single-valve piano player embodying: my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevationof the tracker bar and note sheet, showing the manner in which the latter may be cut to produce the moderating effect, the cutting being here more in the nature of adiagrammatic showing for illustration purposes;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on Serial NO. 460296.

the lines 33, and i-4, respectively, of Fig. 2. looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken about on the plane indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 1 and showing a group of eo-operating expression boxes and their respective striking pneumatics Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of expression box;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a still further modification of the expression box; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail fragmentary views, illustrating different methods of cut ting the operative openings in the note sheet.

Throughout the following detailed description and on the several figures of the drawings, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

Pneumatic-ally operated piano players, prior to this invention, have had tracker bars with openings therein, each connected with a channel. These channels are usually formed within all or a part of the following: metal tubes, rubber tubes, and channel boards. Along each channel, usually at, or near the end farthest from the tracker bar, is a pouch, and somewhere within each channel, connecting the same to a partial vacuum is a bleed hole. The purpose of said channel is to conduct air to the pouch when the player is operated and the corresponding opening in the tracker bar is uncovered. The air actuates the pouch and the latter in turn actuates a valve. The mediums be tween the air channels and valves above mentioned are not all of the same construction and are called by different names, such as primary pouches, diap'hragms, pneumatics, et cetera, but all serve the same purpose, namely, to actuate a valve. There I use the word pouch in this application, I mean that object used betweenthe air channel above mentioned and the valve for actuating the latter.

The purpose of the bleed hole is to remove the surplus air from the channel when the opening in the tracker bar is covered by a solid portion of the note sheet, thereby allowing thepouch and valve to return to their normal positions.

Piano players with parts constructed as above described must have the openings in the tracker bar several times as large as the bleeds .in order that the air may enter the channel faster than it goes out, because the bleeds cause a constant drain on the channels when the openings in the tracker bar are uncovered and the piano or musicalinstruinent is being played. a

My invention is capable of being used with various kinds of operative mechanisms for player pianos and is here shown as in use in a single valve piano player of wellknown construction.

The air channels or tubes 23 and of this invention are not provided with bleeds. The tracker bar is formed with the regular note openings 22 each connected with an air channel 23 leading to a pouch 24 which actuates a valve 25 adapted to connect the interior of a pneumatic '26 with a vacuum chest 2? from which the air is exhausted by any suitable means. Each pneumatic 26 is connected in the usual manner with the action of the piano, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In the tracker bar 15 are arranged what I term for purposes of distinction supple mentary or expression openings 32 preferably located alongside each of the regular note openings 22 and in superposed pairs as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. Said sup plementary tracker bar openings 32 are each connected with an air channel or air tube 33 leading to a pouch 34 arranged in the expression box 3 1. Said pouch 34 may ao tuate any expression device or a part thereof, designed to produce a, louder or softer tone. An arrangement of such cha acter is shown in Figs. 1 and 5 and will hereinafter be specifically described.

In the tracker bar 15. below each regular note opening 22and above or below each sul'ipleinentary expression opening 32 is another opening 21, which will hereinafter be referred to as exhaust ports. Between each regular opening 22 and the exhaust port 21 immediately below it is a communicative channel or passage 20, extending only partly through the wall ofthe tracker bar 15 and connecting the regular opening 22 and its co-acting exhaust port 21. This passage 20 will herein be referred to as an exhaust passage. Between each supplementary opening 32 and the exhaust port 21 immediately above or below it is a similar exhaust passage correspondingly designated 20. Thetracker bar 15 is so constructed that there is hollow space or passage 16 on both'sides of the center of its breadth extending lengthwise far enough to receive all of the exhaust ports 21 which enter the hollow space 16. The tube 17 connects the interiors of the two spaces 16, and the tube 18 connects the same to the vacuum chest 27.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, it will be observed that each expression device includes an expression box 3% hereinbefore mentioned. arranged to intercept each air passage from the striking Pneumatics to the vacuum chest 27. lVithin each of these boxes is disposed a series of valves designated 35, there being in the present instance four such valves provided for each expression box and each of such valves controlling an opening36. The operative area of the respective expression box openings 36 varies so that the effective operative area of. the passage 60 depends upon which one of these openings is uncovered or which combination of such openings is effective. The valves 35 are each held in elevated operative position by means of suitable spring 37 and said valves are designed to be actuated against the expansion of the springs under the action of their respective pouches 34 to cover the openings 36 under the control of the note sheet in its travel over the tracker bar. it will be obvious from Fig. 5 that I prefer to arrange the expression boxes in co -operative groups or units, which is accomplished by employing branch passages 83' leading from certain of the tubes 33 to the next adjacent expression box or boxes. Thus two tubes leading from the lower andupper holes or ports 32 operate valves 1 and et r spectively speaking with reference to their side by side arrangement; These tubes are forked or branched and the branches leading therefrom operate valves 2 and 3 of the next expression box while valves 2 and 2-3 of the last mentioned box are operated by branches from the two tubes leading from the left of the regular note opening 22. It follows from this that if a pneumatic is to collapse with its softest intensity soto speak, the openings in the note sheet must be so cut that the regular opening 22 will be uncovered and each set of expression openings 32 at opposite sides of said'note opening will be likewise uncovered. ()fcourse. valves'l and 4 of the next box on the left and valves 2 and 3 of the next box on the right will be operated at the same time. but unless the tracker bar opening is correspondingly uncovered the'pneumatic will not collapse to play the piano note. Such action rarely occurs in music, that is where two keys'side by side, as (l and C sharp are played at the same time and when they are so played together it is never with one at the softest intensity and the other at the loudest so that this arrangement will cause but little or no inconvenience.

It may be well to note at this point that 21. in the vacuum chest 27 and other parts with with this four valvearrangement to an expressionbox, it is possible .to get sixteen dillerent combinations or valve positions which of course provide variations as follows:

1. All closed. 2 1 Open. 3 :2 4: 7? 5 L4 77 '6 Land 2 'T a '1" and 3 8 v1 and 4t '9 2;:1-nd'3 10 "2 sand 4 11 3 sand 4 12 1,2 and 3 13 1, 2 and 4 14 1, 3 and 4 15 2, 3 and 4 16 1, 11,3 and 4;

It may also be well to note at this pointv that when two pairs of the expression open ings in the tracker bar are to be uncovered, it is not necessary-that the opening in the note sheetshall'be long enough to span the two pairs as. shown in Fig. 8, for the opening in said sheetnnay be cut as indicated in Fig. '9, and designated 81.. This will allow rapidly repeated notes, or more strictly speaking, note sheet openings, to be placed closer together should the expression of one following the above require both of these expression ports to be open.

It follows from the "foregoing that the practical result which is accomplished by arranging the expression boxes in the grouped manner shown, wherein the valves are operated through branch conduits leading to adjacent expression boxes, is to increase the valve positions from four in the single box arrangement to sixteen in the group arrangement without increasing the number of holes in the tracker bar, thereby producing a wide range of variation in intensities.

Before passing to the operation of the device, it will be observed that each of the expression boxes is provided with an opening 36 which remains uncovered at all times. in order to permit the normalizing of the pneumatic in the operation of the device.

In order to sound a note by means of this player attached to. or built into a piano, use is made ofthe regular note sheet perforation in the note sheet '10 adapted to move into register with a regular tracker bar note opening 22, uncovering the latter, exhaust passage 20 and its exhaust port There being a partial vacuum created which said vacuum chest communicates when the piano operates, air passes through matic 26 with the vacuum chest 27 exhausting the air from said pneumatic causing the same to collapse and thereby actuate a cor responding piano key or part of the piano action with a view to sound a corresponding string of'thepiano.

The parts-remain in this position as long as the opening 22 its exhaust port 21 and exhaust passage 20 remain uncovered. \Vhen the perforation 20 passes and regular opening exhaust passage 20 and exhaust port 21. are covered by a solid portion of the note sheet, regular opening is connected to exhaust port 21 by the channel formed by the note heet and exhaust passage 20 (see Fig. i.) and the air is drawn from beneath pouch which is pushed back toits former position by the weight and suction, and valve and other parts returned to former po sitions. This method of removing the air from the air channels throughthe opening where it enters allows the use of much smaller openings in the tracker bar than in the case when bleed holes are used. It

may be here explained that in every pneumatic piano player when a hole in the tracker bar is uncovered, to raise a valve,'air

is admitted at the same time through a blood hole to the exhaust chest. The bleed hole is very small and it would take some time under such conditions to establish atbleed hole and serve the same purpose.

In order to soften or moderate any one of the notes to be sounded, in the sense in which this term is used, as much as possible by this apparatus, use is made of an auxiliary or moderating perforation 81 in the note sheet 10, adapted to move into register with both supplementary tracker bar openings 32 corresponding to that note opening, uncovering these and their corresponding exhaust ports 21 and exhaust passages 20 at the same time its mating note perforation 80 is in register with its corresponding regular opening 22, exhaust passage 20 and exhaust port 21. Air then goes through channels At this instant, striking pneumatic 26 is about to collapse and a partial vacuum is formed within it and within moderating valve chambers 11. The air above moderating pouches thence through the channel .23-to i 34 and the partial vacuum below the same cause moderating pouches 34: to force down valves 35 against the resistance of the springs 37,- shutting ofi' a part of the air passage through which the air passes from striking pneumatic 26 to chest 27. It is understood that whenpassage 60 is diminished, striking pneumatic 26 will collapse with less momentum and the hammer will-strike with less force causinga softer tone. If the loudest tone is desired, no moderating perforation is cut in the note sheet. If it is desired to actuate only one of the moderating valves 36 in each passage 60, moderating perforation 81 is so cut that it registers with the supplementary opening 32 exhaust passage 20 and exhaust port 21 functioning with that moderating valve only, at'the time its mating note perforation registers with its corre-' sponding opening 22, exhaust passage 20 and exhaust port 21. Obviously, since the openings in the expression box vary in operative area the operation of the valves in the manner hereinbefore explained makes it possible to obtain a wide range of power from each striking pneumatic.

When perforation 81 passes, and supplementary openings 32, exhaust ports 21 and exhaust passages 20 are covered by a solid portion ofthe note sheet, the air is drawn from return moderating channels 33, and springs 37 return moderating valves 35 to their normal positions.

Referring to Fig. 6,1 have illustrated a modifiedform of expression box in which I provide a series of openings 36 at one side and second series of openings 36 at the other side, with which corresponding openings in valves 35 and 35 register when in their normal positions, and central opening 36 which is open at all times. Springs 36 I hold the valve members 35 and 35 in their uppermost positions and the openings aforesaid in register, and a shutter 36 is pivoted intermediate its length at 36 and connected at one end to the valve 35 as at 36 With this arrangement, I am able to obtain a variation in the operative area of the air passage 60 quite similar to that in the preferred form. Thus when the valve 35 is depressed its openings, three in number, are moved out of register with. the box openings corresponding thereto and the end of the shutter 36 is raised until it covers the three openings at the right of the valve 35 leaving the fourth opening of this valve and the opening '36 operative. When instead of the foregoing valve 35 is depressed all'of its openings are brought out of registry with its corresponding box openings leaving the three openings in the valve 35 and the center opening 7 36 operative. If on the other hand, both valves aresimultaneously depressed, only the opening 36 remains 0perative, while in the normal position of the valves first mentioned all eight of the openings are operative. Obviously, the respective openings in the valves may vary 1n size after the manner indicated with regard to arrangement any intensity the player is capable of giving can be had by timingthe expression opening so as to catch the pneumatic partially collapsed to any degree.

In conclusion, referring to Fig. 2, the method of perforating the note sheet so as to accomplish the results herein describedwill be apparent. Beginning with the extreme left end of the sheet A designates a note perforation for the expression box so that no moderating effect is produced. B represents an expression opening cut in the note sheet to co-operate with the lower part of tracker bar expression openings in conjunction with the note perforation adjacent thereto. The group C shows the expression opening perforation 81 cut to co-oper'ate with the uppermost pair of expression openings in the tracker bar; the fourth group D,

represents the opening 81 co-operating with both pair of expression openings at one side of the note opening; and the remaining groups are merely a further carrying out of the idea of combination of the various expression openings with regard to the note opening to bring about the different intensifications above described.

- In the claims by the terms normal striking action, normal action or normal playing operation is meant that playing action which is produced merely by the un-. covering of a note opening 111 the tracker bar whlch normal playing action is more or less'affected by the uncovering of the as- ]sOoc ated expression openlngs of said tracker readily be made in the details of'construction other than those above referred to, without departlng from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A tracker bar of the class described It will be apparent that changes may Lit 2. A tracker bar of the class described comprising a series of note openings and a corresponding series of exhaust ports, and a channel connegting a note opening with an adjacent exhaust port.

3. A tracker bar of the class described having a series of note openings and an exhaust port, a channel opening through the face of the tracker bar and connecting a note opening with the exhaust port whereby to establish communication between said note opening and the exhaust port when the channel is covered.

l. A tracker bar of the class described comprising a series of note openings and a series of exhaust openings, and means for establishing communication between the ex haust and any of the note openings aforesaid when the note sheet is associated with the bar.

A tracker bar of the class described having note and expression openings, an exhaust port associated with said openings and means for establishing communication between the note or expression opening and the exhaust port as an incident to movement of the note sheet over the tracker bar.

6. A tracker bar of the class described comprising a series of note openings and a series of expression openings, an exhaust port associated with each of said openings, a communi-ating passage between the note and expression openings and the exhaust port operative to establish communication between the note opening and the exhaust or the expression opening and the exhaust when said means is covered by the note sheet.

7. A tracker bar of the class described comprising a series of note openings and a series of expression openings, an exhaust port associated with each of said openings, a communicating passage between the note and expression openings and the exhaust port operative to establish communication between the note opening'and the exhaust or the expression opening and the exhaust when said means is covered by the note sheet, communication being interrupted when said means is uncovered by the note sheet.

In testimony whereof I af'fix my signature.

OSCAR D. GRAVES. 

